Is the Future of Comfort Collective?

As cities grow hotter and denser, the conversation around comfort must shift from individual privilege to collective right. This session explores how we can build climate-conscious cities that don’t just adapt to rising temperatures, but do so equitably. Titled “Is the Future of Comfort Collective?” this panel brings together leading voices from architecture, urban planning, and climate science to examine what it means to design for comfort in a warming world, especially for those without access to air conditioning or formal housing. Sonali Rastogi brings architectural insight through large-scale public projects such as Ambuja Neotia Township, and Hines Pune, translating climate-aware strategies into livable, scalable urban design. Prof. Rajan Rawal offers a deep dive into data-driven approaches such as microclimate modelling, adaptive thermal comfort, and energy efficiency. Lubaina Rangwala anchors the conversation in justice and resilience, questioning who benefits from design interventions, and who gets left behind. By reframing comfort as community, this session reclaims cool as a form of collective resilience, built on empathy, access, and design that serves all.